Device for soil samples



March 3, 1964 B. M. OVERBY DEVICE FOR son. SAMPLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 27, 1962 s Y a R m m m2 0 W m w, M m M EX N March 3, 1964 B.M. OVERBY DEVICE FOR SOIL SAMPLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1962BENJAMm M- OVERBY AT-roRN'e'vs United States Patent Ofi ice 3,123,163DEVlt'JE FER S951 SAMPLES Eeujnni'n M. fiver-by, 16%) Mary St.,l-l'cmerville, Ga. Filed duly 27, 1952, er. No. 212,897 9 Gaines. (El.175-464) This invention relates to a device for taking soil sampies, andin particular to a cylindrical, tubular bore, with cutting teeth on thelower edge, adapted for annular boring to cut a soil sample in the formof a cylindrical mass.

In the determination of soil properties, an important item is density,which requires data concerning both the volume and weight or" a givenquantity of soils. Weig t determination is a fairly simple matter, butvolumetric determinations are attended with some ditldculty, istherefore an object of the present invention to e a sampling devicewhich automatically extracts a Clnllllc, volume of soil, of fixedamount, in each sarn- Another object, related to the foregoing, is to rvie for removal of the sarnple, with the device, in may rnun'i aniount.Yet another object is to provide a for retrieving small amounts ofsample remainin the bore hole after first extraction. in still greaterearticular, it is an object to provide an auxiliary tool, cooperatingwith the device, both to corneact the main sample, and serve theadditional function of removing re .-ue from the bore hole.

A still further object is to provide a turning handle for the device,which is alternatively connectiole to the tamper-retriever, as operatedwithin the coring device.

These and other ends, whic will be apparent, are attained by the presentinvent on, which may be briefly characterized as comprising a tube, withtoothed, lower edge, and a cooperati g, flat guide plate, adapted forground placement at the bore site, and havin an opening with an upwardlyextending sleeve, which receives guides the tube, and which acts as allll'lli'. stop, defining the lim t of penetration of the tube into theground, by contact with a cross rod carried transversely on the tube,which rod is carried by a turning handle, and is alternativelyconnectible to the tube or a tarnping-retrieving devi e, operable wit :1the tube.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference taken on theplane of the line l of EEGURE 3;

FlGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a cylindrical plug of soil afterejection from the coring tool;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the tube replaced in thebore hole, and the turning handle connected to the retrieving deviceinstead of to the tube; FIGURE 7 is a sectional View, taken on the planeor the line 7-7 of FEGURE 6, on enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the cutting t eth on thelower edge of the tube;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of one or" the teeth of FIGURE 8, takenfrom inside the tube, and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line lillb of FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown, inFIGURE 1, a device comprising, essentially a base guide lb, and acutting tube 32. The

l mented Mar., 3, 11864 base it) comprises a planiiorm ring, or annulus14, adapted for surface contact of its bottom side even, horizontal zoneof ground surface at the site where a sample is to be taken. losing fromthe central opening of ring 14 is a cylindrical sleeve l6, the innerdiameter of which is size to receive the tube 12 in a snug lit, forsliding and rotation. The shape and areal extent of the base ring la maybe vaiea, and is shown, for instance, in PZGURES 2, 3, 6 and 7 aselongate, rectangular plate The bottom edge of tube 12 is provided withsaw teeth 3 later to be descri ed in detai with reference to FlGUi-JES8-10.

V i ng tube 12 is rotated and lifted by means of a T-forin handle 'ng across rod 29, and a depending rod 22, the latte carrying, at its lowerend, a depending yoke 9 V a cross bar The lower ends of the arms 0. olrehave bores 2-3, ali ned on a common axis, sized to snugly receive acoupling pin 3-8, by means or" which the yolre is coupled to coring 1'2,the latter b g provided with diametrically opposite bores 32 near .s topedge, for this purpose.

With the handle comiected the coring tube by means of the pin fill, thebottom end of the tube is inserted into guide sleeve la; of the baseplate and lowered until ground contact is made, after which, tut 'ng ofthe handle is communicate to the tube through pin 39, and as the teethout the earth n a ring-form path, the tube gradually descends, isola g acylindrical plug or" earth 556 (FIGURES 3 and 5 rthe process. Thecutting and low 0 proceed until the extending ends of coupling pin cometo bear on the to; of guide tube 16, which contact edectively stops thedownward movement. Thus, the po on of the top edge of sleeve 36determines the deeth or" and the slugs 36 are therefore always of e samelength. Since the diameter of the tube also rerna. is const the vo -nineof sample taken will always be the same, and this need only bedetermined once.

Aft-er full pen tration has been made, the next step is to remove thesoil slug, and it would be most desirable if the tube could beimmediately d out, along with the of slug or core. However, this willusually require some compacting, and therefore the handle isdisconnected by with wal of pin 38 to permit access by a iHHlZBlilgtool. Any suitable tool may be employed for this purpose, but as will beseen hereinafter, the oresent invention conternr-lates a dual purposeauxiliary tool, which is adapted for tanzping, in addition to rernovingsample residue from the bore hole.

As seen in FEGURES 8-19, the cuttin teeth are such as may be fabricatedby machining operations on the wall of coring tube 2. Thus, each toothhas a straigl' front or leading edge 38, parallel to the axis of thetube, and a diagonally disposed following edge 4:"? on its underside,such that when viewed sidewi e, the teeth have the form of an invertedright triangle. As best seen in FEGURE 8, each tooth is cut away on theinside, to provide a triangular recess, similar in shape to the tooth,with a bottom wall 42 parallel to diagonal, under side at; of the tooth,and a back wall 4 3-, of wedgeform cross-section, providing a triangularconfiguration to the forward face 353 of the tooth. As a consequence ofthe slope of back wall 44, the bottom Wall 4-2 is also wedge-shaped, andmeets the back wall in a comrnon verter: 46. Near its leading end, theshelf defined by bottom wall 42 is beveled, at 48, for a short distanceto provide a sharp leading edge St). It will be seen that the slantedfaces 48, 42 and d4 all contribute to a cleaning function, wherein thesoil plowed up by leading edge 5% is carried upwardly and inwardly, andis thus removed from the annular path of the cutter. in this process,the additional material compacted into the core or slug as- 3 sists inthe provision of a coherent mass which will cling to, and be removedwith, the coring tube.

However, the compactness and cohesion of the material will necessarilybe less pronounced at the bottom of the fully bored slug, and here therewill also be less tendency to cling to the tube. Consequently, it may benecessary to employ a final extracting operation, and to this end theinvention contemplates an auger-type tool, cooperating with the coringcylinder. This unit, indicated as a whole by the numeral 52 in FIGURE 1,comprises a central rod 54, carrying, on its lower end, an auger bl" das, shown as consisting of a single convolution, and w ch may be simplyfabricated by radially slitting and bending a metal disc or washer. Theelement 56 is sized for a sliding and rotating fit in coring tube ii,For guiding its co-action with tube 12, the auger rod 5 also carries adisc or washer 58, and an intermediate ring 69, the latter attached byspiders or spokes 62, and providing clearance for moving earth, whennecessary. At its upper end, the auger rod is provided with an upperbore 64, and a lower bore 65, engageable alternatively by the pin 39, sothat the auger depth may be controlled by dwell of the pin either on thetop edge of tube 12, or on the top edge of sleeve 16, when carried inthe bores in tube 12. The latter case is illustrated in FIGURE 7,wherein the yoke 24 of handle 29 is also shown as engaged by the pin 39,for ready manipulation of the auger, precise limitation of penetration,and easy withdrawal of the whole assembly, together with the finalincrement of soil sample. When it is desirable or convenient to use theauger, dissociated from the tube, the pin 3% is placed in upper bore 64of the auger rod, and the auger inserted in tube 12 as shown in dottedlines in FIGURE 7. in this case the auger is rotated by means of the pin3%, and is stopped in its downward movement when the pin contacts thetop edge of tube 12, the bore 64 being so located that when such contactis made, the cutting edge of the auger is at the bottom of the borehole,that is, in the plane of the cutting edge of teeth 3 of the coring tube.Since the tube 12. is not turned in this operation, the depth of bore isnot increased.

In a typical operation, a base plate, such as the plate 18 is laid on alevel stretch of ground, with guide sleeve 16 overlying the locationwhere the core sample is to be taken. If necessary, the long, flat sidesof the plate may be employed to trowel the bore area to level condition.With the handle and tube assembled, through pin 3%, the tube is insertedinto guide sleeve 16 into contact with the ground surface, and rotationof the tube commenced, coupled with downward pressure on the handle,which causes the tube to descend as its teeth cleave the earth in anannular path. In this progress the earth loosened by the cutting teethis continuously moved inwardly, compacting into the central core beingcut. When pin 39 comes to rest on the top edge of sleeve 16 thepenetration is arrested, and after a further, slight rotation of thetube, the device is lifted out of the bore hole, after tamping, of suchis necessary, carrying with it most of the slug 36, the latter beingdeposited in a receptacle for further treatment, such as the pan 6% inFIGURE 5.

Necessarily in most cases there will be a certain amount of the soilsample at the bottom of the slug which is too loose to adhere to theslug and be carried out with it. This residue is conveniently taken outby means of the auger blade 56. For this purpose the tube 12 is replacedin the hole, and the auger blade introduced into the tube, to pick upthe residue in a rotary motion, after which the tube, with the augerinside is again removed, and the balance of the sample, carried out onthe auger blade, is added to the pan 68. To determine the averagedensity of the sample, it is only necessary to weigh it, since thevolume is known for the particular instrument used, and remains the samewith each use. If the density of the soil in dry condition is sought,the moisture will be removed from the sample by treatment in an oven, orsuit- .d. able exposure in a warm, dry atmosphere, and the sampleweighed in dry condition. As stated above the angering of the sampleresidue may be effected either with the auger attached to the coringtube, or separate therefrom.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described,modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and theinvention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar asshall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

l Vhat is claimed is:

1. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge with slant surfaces arrangedto move soil from the path of the teeth axially and radially of thetube, a planiform ground plate, a second cylindrical tube extending fromone side of said plate, with axis perpendicular thereto, and sized toreceive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion, said platehaving a through opening coextensive with the passage in said secondtube, said first tube having a pair of bores near its upper edge onopposite sides, arranged on a common axis disposed diametrically of thetube, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted to overlie the top edgeof said second tube, a T-form handle having a depending yoke adapted formovement along the passage of said first tube, and having a pair ofaligned bores adapted to receive said pin; and an auger comprising a rodhaving a pair of longitudinally spaced bores near one end, each sized toreceive said pin to provide alternative positions of use, said rodcarrying an auger blade of at least one convolution at its other end,and a pair of circular guide means above said blade, said guide meansand said lade sized for a sliding and rotating fit in said first tubeand the lowermost of said guide means having substantial, throughopenings.

2. A device as in claim 1, said ground plate being rectangular andoblong.

3. A device as in claim 1, said lowermost guide means being ofring-form, with radial spiders.

4. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge with slant surfaces arrangedto move soil from the path of the teeth axially and radially of thetube, a planiform ground plate, a second cylindrical tube extending fromone side of said plate with axis perpendicular thereto, and sized toreceive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion, said platehaving a through opening coextensive with the passage in said secondtube, said first tube havnig a pair of bores near its upper edge onopposite sides, arranged on a common axis disposed diametrically of thetube, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted to overlie the top edgeof said second tube, a T-form handle having a depending yoke adapted formovement along the passage of said first tube, and having a pair ofaligned bores adapted to receive said pin; and an auger comprising a rodhaving a pair of longitudinally spaced bores near one end, each sized toreceive said pin to provide alternative positions of use, said rodcarrying an auger blade of at least one convolution at its other end,and a pair of circular guide means above said blade, said guide meansand said blade sized for a sliding and rotating fit in said first tube.V

5. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge with slant surfaces arrangedto move soil from the path of the teeth axially and radially of thetube, a planiform ground plate, a second cylindrical tube extending fromone side of said plate, with axis perpendicular thereto, and sized toreceive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion, said platehaving a through opening coextensive with the passage in said secondtube, said first tube having a pair of bores near its upper edge onopposite sides, arranged on a common axis disposed diametrically of thetube, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted to overlie the top edgeof said second tube, a handle having a depending portion adapted formovement along the passage of said first tube, and having a bore adaptedto receive said pin;

and an anger comprising a rod having a pair of longitudinally spacedbores near one end, each sized to receive said pin to providealternative positions of use, said rod carrying an anger blade of atleast one convolution at its other end, and a pair of circular guidemeans above said blade, said guide means and said blade sized for asliding and rotating fit in said first tube.

6. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge With slant surfaces arrangedto move soil from the path of the teeth axially and radially of thetube, a planiform ground plate, a second cylindrical tube extending fromone side of said plate, with axis perpendicular thereto, and sized toreceive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion, said platehaving a through opening coextensive With the passage in said secondtube, said first tube having a pair of bores near its upper edge onopposite sides, arranged on a common axis disposed diametrically of thetube, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted to overlie the top edgeof said second tube, a handle having a depending portion adapted formovement along the passage of said first tube, and having a bore adaptedto receive said pin; and an anger comprising a rod having a bore nearone end, also adapted to receive said pin, said rod carrying an augerblade of at least one convolution at its other end, and a pair ofcircular guide means above said blade, said guide means and said bladesized for a sliding and rotating fit in said first tube.

7. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge with slant surfaces arrangedto move soil from the path of the teeth axially and radially of thetube, a planiform ground plate, a second cylindrical tube extending fromone side of said plate, with axis perpendicular thereto, and sized toreceive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion, said platehaving a through opening coextensive with the passage in said secondtube, said first tube having a pair of bores near its upper edge onopposite sides, arranged on a common axis disposed diametrically of thetube, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted to overlie the top edgeof said second tube, a handle having a depending portion adapted formovement along the passage of said first tube, and having a bore adaptedto receive said pin; and an auger comprising a rod having a bore nearone end, also adapted to receive said pin, said rod carrying an augerblade of at least one convolution at its other end, and guide means formaintaining said rod axially of said first tube.

8. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first cylindricaltube, with cutting teeth on its lower edge, a planiform ground plate, asecond cylindrical tube extending from one side of said plate, with axisperpendicular thereto, and sized to receive said first tube for rotatingand sliding motion, said plate having a through opening coextensive withthe passage in said second tube, said first tube having a pair of boresnear its upper edge on opposite sides, arranged on a common axisdisposed diametrically of the tube, a pin receivable in said bores andadapted to overlie the top edge of said second tube, a handle having adepending portion adapted for movement along the passage of said firsttube, and having a bore adapted to receive said pin; and an augercomprising a rod having a bore near one end, also adapted to receivesaid pin, said rod carrying an anger blade of at least one convolutionat its other end, and guide means for maintaining said rod axially ofsaid first tube.

9. A device for taking soil samples, comprising a first tube, withcutting teeth on its lower edge, a planiform ground plate, a second tubeextending from one side of said plate, With axis perpendicular thereto,and sized to receive said first tube for rotating and sliding motion,said plate having a through opening coextensive With the passage in saidsecond tube, said first tube having a pair of diametrically oppositebores near its upper edge, a pin receivable in said bores and adapted tooverlie the top edge of said second tube, a handle having a dependingportion adapted for movement along the passage of said first tube, andhaving a bore adapted to receive said pin; and an auger comprising a rodhaving a bore near one end, also adapted to receive said pin, said rodcarrying an auger blade of at least one convolution at its other end,and guide means for maintaining said rod axially of said first tube.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS370,810 Newman Oct. 4, 1887 568,077 Thonar Sept. 22, 1896 719,800 HogleFeb. 3, 1903 1,340,927 Whitman May 25, 1920 2,084,686 Howard June 22,1937 2,152,707 Orr Apr. 4, 1939 2,385,441 Hill Sept. 25, 1945

9. A DEVICE FOR TAKING SOIL SAMPLES, COMPRISING A FIRST TUBE, WITHCUTTING TEETH ON ITS LOWER EDGE, A PLANIFORM GROUND PLATE, A SECOND TUBEEXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID PLATE, WITH AXIS PERPENDICULAR THERETO,AND SIZED TO RECEIVE SAID FIRST TUBE FOR ROTATING AND SLIDING MOTION,SAID PLATE HAVING A THROUGH OPENING COEXTENSIVE WITH THE PASSAGE IN SAIDSECOND TUBE, SAID FIRST TUBE HAVING A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITEBORES NEAR ITS UPPER EDGE, A PIN RECEIVABLE IN SAID BORES AND ADAPTED TOOVERLIE THE TOP EDGE OF SAID SECOND TUBE, A HANDLE HAVING A DEPENDINGPORTION ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG THE PASSAGE OF SAID FIRST TUBE, ANDHAVING A BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PIN; AND AN AUGER COMPRISING A RODHAVING A BORE NEAR ONE END, ALSO ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PIN, SAID RODCARRYING AN AUGER BLADE OF AT LEAST ONE CONVOLUTION AT ITS OTHER END,AND GUIDE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID ROD AXIALLY OF SAID FIRST TUBE.